Lesotho Planned Parenthood Association: lessening the SRH pain of Lesotho people

Since its creation in 1968, Lesotho Planned Parenthood Association (LPPA) has
transformed from a family planning provider, to one that gives comprehensive sexual
and reproductive health (SRH) services and advocates for gender sensitive policies and
laws.

Our emphasis on women and young people is reflected in our actions.

In 2007, 30 per cent of our budget was dedicated to youth or adolescent programmes.

Services to our target groups:

• cattle herders
• prisoners
• rural populations
• factory workers
• universities
• police training centres
• people living with HIV/AIDS

include:

• family planning
• management of sexually transmitted infections
• screening for cancers of the reproductive system
• emergency contraceptives
• pregnancy testing 
• post-abortion care
• voluntary counselling and testing
• management of infections

Clients are referred to other centres for CD4 tests and ARV treatment.

We run programmes in 21 schools in Maseru district with out-of-school young people who pass on SRH information using drama, puppetry, and sports for life and facilitated discussions.

We further conduct health information and education programmes such as health talks, workshops, drama performances, radio and TV shows.

Community leaders, teachers, religious leaders and other stakeholders are targeted to ensure favourable policies and laws on SRH.

This approach to tackling SRH issues has resulted in good outcomes.

In 2006, we served 85,000 clients, of which 8,000 were poor or marginalized.

Another achievement is our research and advocacy on unsafe abortion and the rights of people living with HIV/AIDS.

HIV prevalence of 23.2 per cent, maternal mortality of 550, modern contraceptive
prevalence of 35 percent, are some the difficulties we have to confront on a daily basis.

Service delivery points
3 branches and 8 clinics

Members of governing body
15, including 7 women and 4 young people under 25 years of age

Staff and volunteers
54 staff, 208 volunteers

Youth centres
1

Members of Young Action Movement
30

Peer educators
90

Community-based distributors
14

Partnerships
Government: LPPA was offered two old Government buildings to renovate for clinics in Quthing and Qacha’s Nek; LPPA is a member of the RH Policy Technical Committee, the Population Exceutive Committee, the
PMTCT Technical Committee and sits on the UN Gender Theme Group
NGOs: The World Vision, Lesotho; Academy for
Educational Development; The Alliance of Parents, Adolescents and Communities; The Olympic Youth Amabssadors Project. SADAC/AED; ICRC; WiLSA; APADOC; International Committee of the Red Cross;
CARE Lesotho; PSI Lesotho
Donors: Irish Aid, UNDP, IPPF Japan Trust Fund, IPPF Korea Africa Fund
CCM: LPPA is a member of the Global Fund Technical Committee and its Country Coordinating Mechanism Partnerships
Network: Positive Action; The Lesotho Network of
People Living with AIDS (LENEPWA); the Lesotho Council of NGOs and the Lesotho Network of AIDS Servicing Organizations